Wheeling attachment for boats



Aug. 20, 1963 J. w. RAYMOND WHEELING ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1962 l Aug. 20, 1963 J. w` RAYMONDv WHEELING ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1962 INVEN TOR.

Jf/Q'QYI/ll/PWMGND United States Patent O WHEELNG ATTAQENT FR BATS Jerry W. Raymond, 1102 Cresent, Wenatchee, Wash. Filed Feb. 23, i952, Ser. No. 175,833

Claims. (Cl. Z50- 35) This invention relates to wheeling attachments designed for ready application to boats, as for example, to such boats as those which are to be powered by outboard motors and also to those which may be propelled manually lby rneans of cars.

More specifically stated the present invention relates to a wheeling `attachment for boats that comprises a crossaaxle that is equipped with novel means for its xed attachment transversely across the Igunwales of a boat and which mounts pai-red wlheels at its ends whereby the boat may be supported after the A`fashion of a wheelbarrow, Afor easy rol-ling on a surface such as, for example, a launching rarnp leading to or tfrom a body of water.

Many boat. owners and users transport their pleasure boats on trailers or car tops to lakes or other bodies of water and upon their I'arrival or departure 'therefrom are required to carry, drag or roll them to and from the water. This is a somewhat diicult task, especially if the boat is heavy; when lthe distance orf portage is` substantial and when it has to be done by one person.

In view of the above disadvantages of boating, it has been the principal object of this invention toprovide a readily portable attachment dev-ice that is easily 'applicable to a boat to serve as a means whereby the boat may be wheeled, wheel-barrow fashion, ion a surface leading between the body of water and boat carrier 'and which may be readily detached and collapsed for its convenient storage for transportation. l

It is also an yobject of this invention to provide 1an at-v tachment device of the character and for the purposes above stated, that is characterized by use of a telescopically adjustable cross-axle, yequipped at its opposite ends with stub axles on which wheels are removably mounted Vand also with axle securing plates that may be fitted iiat-ly against the sidewalls or gunwales of the boat then readily and adequately secured thereto by hand clamps thus to functionally secure said attachment device to the boat.

It is also anA object of this invention to provide a modied `form of attachment devi-ce within the scope of this invention that may be readily applied for use to the transom wall of the boat.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in .the details of construction and combination of its parts and in the manner of their application Iand use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other o jects, of this invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms lof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is la perspective view of a boat as equipped with a wheeling attachment embodying the improvements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the manner of `wheeling a boat when equipped with the present attachment device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view `of the attachment device as functionally secu-.red to a boat.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yone of the clamp plates whereby the cross-'axle is secured at its ends to the gunwales of the boat.

FIG 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axle taken on line 5 5 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view `of an end portion of .the cross-axle, showing the wheel mounting spindle rod as welded thereto. 1

FIG. 7 is la vertical section of a part of the cross-axle taken on line 7 7 in FIG. 3.

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FIG. 8 is 1a rear end view of a boat equipped with a cross-axle assembly as modified dor its attachment to the transom wall of the boat.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cnoss-section on line 9&9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective View of a fragmental end portion tot the modified cross axle of FIG. 8.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:v

Tlhe attachment device of this invention, in a presently preferred for-m, comprises a cross-axle that yin FIGS. 1 and 3 is ldesignated in its entirety by reference numeral lll and which is equipped at its opposite ends with paired wheels ll-Il on which the boat may be wheeled on a ramp or roadway between water and boat carrier vehicle.

Ilhe usual place of application of the cross-axle kis across the gunwales lof the prow portion of the boat as in FIG. l but may be at any other position which may be desired by the boat handler. Fixed adjustably to the opposite end portions olf the cross-axle lil are its securing plates 15 each of which is like that shown in FIG. 4; there being lone 'of these employed at each end 4of fthe axle.

The cross-axle it) is made up [of two Iangle iron bars,

10a and Illb, that are nested together as shown in FIG. 5 for telescopic adjustment to suit the length of axle required to accommodate any particular boat. Each of the angle bars 10a and 10b is tformed at regularly spaced intervals in its base flange with bolt holes 16 in the fform of elongated slots, adapted to be registered with those of the other to receive bolts 17 therethrough to secure the axle in any of its possible lengthadjustments. At their outer ends the bars 10a and lill) have short lengths of spindle forming rod Sth-19" seated lengthwise of and welded in the angle thereof and extended beyond their outer ends. These spindle rods are securely welded in place as indicated at 18 iniFIGS. 3 and 6 and mount the wheels Ill-11 thereon. These wheels fmay be Vof any suitable form of construction and in various diameters to best serve the requirement. `Cotter keys may be applied through or 'nuts may be threaded tonto the spindle rod ends, as at Z9 in FIG. 3 to hold the wheels when I functionally applied to the axle.

Each of the axle securing plates, designated in its en tirety by numeral l5 in FIG. 4 is of novel formation in 'that it comprises two rectangular plates of substantially the same dimensions, designated respectively by numerals 15a .and 15b. These plates have longitudinal edges hingedly joined as at 15h. The preferred mode of attachment of the axle securing pla-tes 15 to the angle bars is as has been shown best in FIG. 3 wherein i-t is observed that the plates l5@ transversely underlie and are disposed flatly against the corresponding angle bar and e-ach is pivotally attached hereto by a single bolt 21 passed through a hole '2.2 formed in the plate near its outer edge and through one of the bolt holes 16 as formed in the outer end portion of the horizontal flange of the angle bar. Each plate 15a also is formed with an arcuate slot 23 that is centered in the center of bolt hole 22 and is designed to receive a securing bol-t 24 upwardly therethrough, as in FIG. 7. This bolt then passes upwardly through a selected hole t6` of the axle bar ange for the securement of the angular position of plate '15.

H-ingedly attached to the opposite end edges of plate 15b, `as in FIG. 4, by hinges 26 and 2.6' are wing plates 27 and 27 to be employed ina manner and for a purpose presentlnested together and adjusted endwise relative to eachother to 'give the axle a proper or desired length |and then are secured in that adjustment by two or more bolts 17 applied through registering slot holes 1d thereof. The bol-ts 2l "which hold the axle securing plates 15 are then applied to the ends of the cross-axle at such positions that the horizontal plates "Sa as secured thereby will overlie the gunwales of the boat and the plates 15b. with wing plates 27-27 at their opposite ends can be adjusted flatly against the inside oivoutside faces of the convengintg gunwales, as has been shown in FlG. 3. The plate securing bolts 24 are then -applied through the plate slots 23 of plates 15a: land through holes d6 in the horizontal anges of the :axle barsftlai and b and the nuts as lapplied thereto are tightened to secure the plates :l5 against any turning. Then U-clamps, `as at 31B in PEG. 3, are lapplied over the gunvwales and wing plates 27-27 as shown in FG. 3 and turned tight thus to secure the plates l5 and hold the `cross-axle Il@ rigidly attached to the boat. The wheels lll-1:1 are then applied to and secured on the axle spindles. The boat may then be inverted for wheeling as in FlG. 2 and this may he done by `one person supporting the boat at its stern end. In this inverted position the boat may be quite easily pushed `or pulled along a surface.

lt is to be understood that in theV application of the securing plates to the axle, if desired they may be so applied that the plates 15b, 27 and 27 will engage the insides of the igunwa'les and the plates 15a extend across their top edges.

It is also understood that the adjustment of the nested axle forming bars lila and ltlb may be extended to various distances as may he required to keep the wheels free and clear of the -gunwales regardless of their convergence or divergence, 1and a-lso that the attachment plates l5 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly from the gunwales to accommodate different tgunwale contours.

In the application of the cross-axle lil of FIG. -8 to the transom `wall Aiti lor rear end wall of a boat, i-t is preferred that the two bars lila-1Gb he irst telescopically adjusted and joined as previously explained by bolts 17 to provide an axle of the desired length. Then the two plates l5 with or without the'hinged wings are applied and secured to the axle hy bolts or the like in spaced relationship for their intended attachment to the transom wall. The axle is then placed in position and the C-clamps 30, as employed in FIG. 3, are applied in the manner illustrated in FlG. 8 Ito secure the axle to the transom wall. Suitable Wheels lil-#l :are applied to the ends of the axle -in the same way as previously described and the boat then inverted and rolled on the supporting road or ramp surface as previously explained, to the place of use, storage, launching -or transportation of the boat.

`In this particular application `of the axle, the two nested angle bars 16m and y10b are faced toward the wall as will be understood by reference to FIG. 9 and in order toretain the hinge connections of the parts '15a and 15b rigid, short lengths of angle iron, as at 35 :are bolted thereto as well shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. ln doing this, bol-ts 36 may be applied through holes 17x provided in flanges of Ythe laxle forming angle bars.

The C-clamps employed for securernen-t of the axle may j be applied as shown in FIG. -8 or in other positions, de-

pending on the requirement -or features of the particular boat.

Attention is also directed to the provision of stop bars 45 applied to the outer edge portions of the plates, as

shown in FIGS. 9 and l0, to seat against edges of the transom rwall or rgunwales to supplement the holding facilities or the clamps 30.

What I claim las new is:

l. A wheeling attachment for a boa-t, comprising a crossaxie with wheel mounting spindles extending yfrom its opposite ends, wheels mounted `on said spindles and axle attaching plates iixed to opposite end portions of said crossaxle; each of said attaching plates comprises two hingedly joined sections, one of which is applied transversely of and flatly against a flange of the corresponding end portion of said cross-axle and the other section is adapted to be adjusted to flatly engage against 'a sidewall surface of the boat, and means for its securernent thereto for the functional mounting of the cross-axle.

2. A boat wheeling attachment of the character described comprising an axle adapted to be laid across the gunwales of a boat for its securement thereto, wheel mounting spindles extending outwardly from opposite end portions of said axle,kwheels mounted on said spindles; said axle comprising two angle iron bars with inner end portions overlapped in nested relationship, for telescopic adjustment, means joining said bars rigidly in adjustment, axle attaching plates applied to the opposite end portions of said cross-axle; each plate comprising a pair of hingedly joined portions with one portion disposed ilatly against the horizontal flange of the corresponding angle bar and pivoted thereto for angular adjustment and the other being substantially vertical and adapted for flatly engaging the side surface of the corresponding gunwale for axle holding securement thereto.

5. A boat wheeling attachment according to claim 2 wherein said vertical portions of the axle attaching plates are rectangular and have flat wings hingedly attached to their opposite ends for disposition flatly against vertical faces of the gunwales, and wherein C-clamps secure said wings to the gunwales.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the vertical portions of said attaching plates and the wing plates are equipped along the outer edges of their inside faces with retaining cleats for abutment against the gunwale strips.

5. A boat wheeling attachment comprising a crossaxle adapted to be extended across the transom wall of a boat; said axle comprising two telescopically nested angle iron bars joined in rigid connection, wheel mounting spindles extended from the outer ends of said crossaxle, ground wheels mounted on said spindles, mounting plates at opposite ends of said axle, each plate having hingedly joined portions with one fixed rigidly to the horizontal flange of the cross-axle, and its'other portion flatly engaging the transom wall of the boat adjacent its top edge, C-clamps applied to said wall and latter mentioned portions of said plates to secure the position of the axle and short lengths of angle bars applied to the angle formed by the hinged portions of said plates and fixed rigidly thereto to maintain the rigidity of the axle relative to the transom wall.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A WHEELING ATTACHMENT FOR A BOAT, COMPRISING A CROSSAXLE WITH WHEEL MOUNTING SPINDLES EXTENDING FROM ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, WHEELS MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLES AND AXLE ATTACHING PLATES FIXED TO OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID CROSSAXLE; EACH OF SAID ATTACHING PLATE COMPRISES TWO HINGEDLY JOINED SECTIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS APPLIED TRANSVERSELY OF AND FLATLY AGAINST A FLANGE OF THE CORRESPONDING END PORTION OF SAID CROSS-AXLE AND THE OTHER SECTION IS ADAPTED TO BE ADJUSTED TO FLATLY ENGAGE AGAINST A SIDEWALL SURFACE OF THE BOAT, AND MEANS FOR ITS SECUREMENT THERETO FOR THE FUNCTIONAL MOUNTING OF THE CROSS-AXLE. 